Most statisticians work in offices and, although that sort of work has traditionally been thought of as totally safe, current research indicates…not so much. "Sitting disease," a term used when referring to metabolic syndrome and the ill-effects of a sedentary lifestyle, is the new affliction of the month. Apparently sitting all day—which most office workers do, often in their cars to and from work and then at their desks for 8-10 hours— reduces blood flow and lowers blood sugar, increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Martha Grogan, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, recently made a startling comment: "For people who sit most of the day, their risk of heart attack is about the same as smoking."
So…if you decide to go into statistics (or any other career that involves prolonged sitting), consider a sit/stand desk that gives you the option to work either way.